Corner sanding pad

ABSTRACT

A V-shaped Corner Sanding Pad for sanding sheetrock and drywall corners. The V-shape sanding pad includes a pair of sanding surfaces, a leading edge, a pair of back surfaces, and an interior corner. Secured within the interior corner is a V-shaped reinforcing member that in a normal, non-use mode is spaced from the leading edge of the sanding pad. Secured on opposite sides of the reinforcing corner is a hook or loop fastener for securing the sanding pad to a carrier.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to sanding pads, and more particularly, to V-shaped sanding pads for sanding corner areas of sheetrock, drywall and the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention entails a sanding pad adapted to the connected to a carrier for sanding a drywall corner of a building. The sanding pad includes a V-shaped sanding face having a leading edge and a pair of sanding surfaces. Extending along each side of the sanding pad is a side edge. Opposite the pair of sanding surfaces is a pair of back surfaces that form an interior corner. A reinforcing corner member substantially narrower than the V-shaped sanding surfaces is secured to the interior corner and to adjacent portions of the pair of back surfaces. The reinforcing corner member includes a pair of terminal edges that terminate inwardly of the side edges so as to leave a portion of the pair of back surfaces uncovered by the reinforcing corner member. Extending along each side of the reinforcing corner member is an array of hook or loop fasteners. The hook or loop fasteners are secured to the uncovered back surfaces such that the hook or loop fasteners disposed on each side of the corner support member are adapted to secure the sanding pad to the carrier.

[0003] In one particular embodiment, the reinforcing corner member comprises an elongated plastic V-shaped piece that is secured to the interior corner of the sanding pad. Secured on both sides of the reinforcing corner member is a strip of hook or loop fasteners. Thus, the corner reinforcing member in this embodiment lies between the hook or loop fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the sanding pad of the present invention and a carrier adapted to be connected to the sanding pad.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the sanding pad.

[0006]FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the sanding pad.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sanding pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] With further reference to the drawings, the sanding pad of the present invention is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 12. As seen in FIG. 1, sanding pad 12 is adapted to be secured or connected to a carrier indicated generally by the numeral 10. Details of the carrier 10 are not dealt with herein because such is not, per se, material to the present invention. However, for a complete and unified understanding of a typical carrier, one is referred to the disclosure found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,708, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In any event, the carrier 10 includes a base 20. Secured to the base 20 is a V-shaped receiver 22. V-shaped receiver 22 includes a pair of front faces that, in the case of the embodiment illustrated herein, includes hook or loop fasteners 24. Secured to the base 20 is a pivot pin 26. Connected to the pivot pin 26 is a pole 28 that extends therefrom and which can be received and manipulated by a worker in the course of sanding a building corner.

[0009] Turning to the sanding pad 12, the same can be constructed of various materials such as foam, rubber, or the like. Sanding pad 12, as disclosed herein, assumes a generally V-shape and includes a pair of front sanding surfaces 30, 32. Basically, the sanding surfaces 30, 32 include an abrasive texture that can be provided in various degrees of coursenesses. That is, the sanding surfaces 30, 32 could be course, medium course, fine course, etc. Defined between the sanding surfaces 30, 32 is a leading edge 34. Disposed opposite the sanding surfaces 30, 32 is a pair of back surfaces 40, 42. Back surfaces 40, 42 define an interior corner 44. Extending along opposite sides of the V-shaped sanding pad 12 is a pair of side edges 36, 38.

[0010] The sanding pad 12 of the present invention is reinforced along the central area thereof. That is, there is provided a reinforcing corner member, indicated generally by the numeral 46, that is secured to the sanding pad. The reinforcing corner member 46 is of a V-shaped or L-shaped configuration and is secured directly by glue, adhesive, or other suitable means, to the interior corner 44. In the design disclosed herein, the reinforcing corner member 46 is substantially more narrow than the V-shaped sanding pad 12. In particular, the reinforcing corner member 46 includes a pair of sides 48, 50 with the sides being joined together to form the V-shaped or L-shaped configuration. Note that the sides 48, 50 that form the reinforcing corner member 46 do not extend outwardly across the entire back surfaces 40, 42. The sides 48, 50 include an outer terminal edge 52 that is spaced inwardly from the side edges 36, 38 of the sanding pad 12. Thus, while the reinforcing corner member 46 is secured to the interior corner 44, it is noted that the reinforcing corner member 46, when so secured, leaves portions of the back surfaces 40, 42 uncovered. While various materials may be used for the reinforcing corner member 46, in the case of the present disclosure, in a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing corner member 46 is constructed of plastic.

[0011] Finally, the V-shaped sanding pad 12 includes a fastening structure secured to portions of the uncovered portions of the back surfaces 40, 42. In the case of the embodiment illustrated herein, the fasteners provided to the sanding pad 12 are hook or loop fasteners 54. Note that the hook or loop fasteners 54 are secured to the uncovered portions of the back surfaces 40, 42. These hook or loop fasteners 54 are adapted to mate with the hook or loop fasteners 24 formed on the carrier 10.

[0012] The V-shaped sanding pad 12 can be secured to the carrier 10 by simply directing the hook or loop fasteners 54 of the sanding pad 12 into engagement with the hook or loop fasteners 24 of the carrier. Thereafter, the sanding pad 12 can be utilized by a sheet rock finisher to sand sheet rock or gypsum corners of a building. It is contemplated that the sanding pad 12 would be manufactured and produced as a disposable unit. That means, once a sanding pad 12 has been sufficiently used, then the same would simply be discarded and a new sanding pad 12 secured to the carrier 10. Of course, it is appreciated that the sanding surfaces 30, 32 themselves could simply be replaced on the sanding pad 12.

[0013] In use, the sanding pad 12 is connected to the carrier 10 and the carrier 10 is positioned adjacent a sheet rock corner such that the V-shaped sanding surfaces 30, 32 are pushed flush into the sheet rock corner. The carrier 10, via the pole 28, is pushed up and pulled down so as to sand the sheet rock corner. The presence of the reinforcing corner member 46 tends to prevent the leading edge 34 and the sanding area adjacent the leading edge from wrinkling. More particularly, the reinforcing corner member 46 causes the leading edge 34 and the sanding areas therearound to be maintained or held in a firm and smooth sanding configuration. This results in the corner of the sheet rock, especially in the areas closely adjacent the juncture of the two walls that form the corner, being sanded in a smooth fashion. That is, the sanding pad 12 tends to provide a smooth surface adjacent the juncture area of the corner and does not tend to gap or cut the sheet rock in this area.

[0014] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sanding pad adapted to be connected to a carrier for sanding drywall corners, comprising: a V-shaped sanding face having a leading edge and a pair of sanding surfaces; a pair of side edges; a pair of back surfaces that form an interior corner; a reinforcing corner member substantially narrower than the V-shaped sanding surfaces and secured to the interior corner and to adjacent portions of the pair of back surfaces; the reinforcing corner member including a pair of terminal edges that terminate inwardly of the side edges so that portions of the pair of back surfaces are uncovered by the reinforcing corner member; and hook or loop fasteners secured outwardly on each side of the reinforcing corner member to at least a portion of the uncovered back surfaces, the hook or loop fasteners disposed on each side of the reinforcing corner member adapted to be secured to the carrier.
 2. The sanding pad of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing corner member comprises an elongated, generally rigid corner support that is secured to the interior corner of the sanding pad.
 3. The sanding pad of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing corner member includes an elongated V-shaped plastic strip that fits flush into the interior corner or the sanding pad.
 4. The sanding pad of claim 1 wherein the sanding pad comprises a compressible material, and wherein when in use the corner reinforcing member and the leading edge of the sanding pad tend to be compressed closer together as force is applied to the sanding pad within a corner area of a building. 